All B's in Biology

[GottaGetThatDMD21]

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Hello everyone,

I'm posting this thread because I am genuinely concerned about my grades as I had gotten a few B's in some biology courses.


Please post your thoughts, I take constructive criticism pretty well - but have a hard time executing what I need to do. Please help.

Thanks

 

[BeyonceFan1226]

You can do it. I went to University of Maryland for undergrad and my science grades were horrible. I received all Cs in my chem courses except Orgo 1 where I was able to obtain a B. I had mostly Bs in my bio courses. I also had two C's in physics. I studied A LOT in undergrad and would often be discouraged because I thought I just wasn't smart enough. I use to think that if I couldn't do well in undergrad, how can I even possibly think dental school is a viable option. I decided to push through and did a one year certificate program where I took graduate level courses similar to the first year of dental school and did well. Sometimes it is a function of the university and how they test (my case) but looking back on it now, I wish I would have recorded my lectures and re-listened to them and transcribed. This may be tedious but it made a world of difference and taught me to pay more attention to details. I took my DAT after my program and received a 20 and applied this past summer. I currently have two acceptances so far.

If you truly are interested in the sciences and enjoy your time while shadowing at a dental office, than I say stick with it. Try to record your lectures and re-listen to them at home and take notes. I use to type down everything my professor said under the powerpoint slides, transfer the notes to a word document, and read my notes like a book. It worked for my grad program where we were tested on every detail and slide so I feel like this method would work for an undergrad bio course. It may be a lot but its always better to overstudy than under. Hopefully it works for you.

Good luck and believe in yourself! I cried many tears but if you work hard, you will eventually push through. I believe it.

 

[A Pre-dent]

.

 

[swindoll]

Do well on DAT Sciences and you'll be fine

 

[350JEEPAZ]

Im sort of similar to you...I averaged B's in all my bio classes....3.11 bio gpa. funny enough Im a bio major. Having graduated already I wished I majored in biochm as I got all As in chemistry and enjoyed it much more. keep trucking...I had the same worries as you and I got accepted.

 

[Faux]

You can do it. I went to University of Maryland for undergrad and my science grades were horrible. I received all Cs in my chem courses except Orgo 1 where I was able to obtain a B. I had mostly Bs in my bio courses. I also had two C's in physics. I studied A LOT in undergrad and would often be discouraged because I thought I just wasn't smart enough. I use to think that if I couldn't do well in undergrad, how can I even possibly think dental school is a viable option. I decided to push through and did a one year certificate program where I took graduate level courses similar to the first year of dental school and did well. Sometimes it is a function of the university and how they test (my case) but looking back on it now, I wish I would have recorded my lectures and re-listened to them and transcribed. This may be tedious but it made a world of difference and taught me to pay more attention to details. I took my DAT after my program and received a 20 and applied this past summer. I currently have two acceptances so far.

If you truly are interested in the sciences and enjoy your time while shadowing at a dental office, than I say stick with it. Try to record your lectures and re-listen to them at home and take notes. I use to type down everything my professor said under the powerpoint slides, transfer the notes to a word document, and read my notes like a book. It worked for my grad program where we were tested on every detail and slide so I feel like this method would work for an undergrad bio course. It may be a lot but its always better to overstudy than under. Hopefully it works for you.

Good luck and believe in yourself! I cried many tears but if you work hard, you will eventually push through. I believe it.

 

[GottaGetThatDMD21]

You can do it. I went to University of Maryland for undergrad and my science grades were horrible. I received all Cs in my chem courses except Orgo 1 where I was able to obtain a B. I had mostly Bs in my bio courses. I also had two C's in physics. I studied A LOT in undergrad and would often be discouraged because I thought I just wasn't smart enough. I use to think that if I couldn't do well in undergrad, how can I even possibly think dental school is a viable option. I decided to push through and did a one year certificate program where I took graduate level courses similar to the first year of dental school and did well. Sometimes it is a function of the university and how they test (my case) but looking back on it now, I wish I would have recorded my lectures and re-listened to them and transcribed. This may be tedious but it made a world of difference and taught me to pay more attention to details. I took my DAT after my program and received a 20 and applied this past summer. I currently have two acceptances so far.

If you truly are interested in the sciences and enjoy your time while shadowing at a dental office, than I say stick with it. Try to record your lectures and re-listen to them at home and take notes. I use to type down everything my professor said under the powerpoint slides, transfer the notes to a word document, and read my notes like a book. It worked for my grad program where we were tested on every detail and slide so I feel like this method would work for an undergrad bio course. It may be a lot but its always better to overstudy than under. Hopefully it works for you.

Good luck and believe in yourself! I cried many tears but if you work hard, you will eventually push through. I believe it.

Thank you so so so much for your words of encouragement!

Also- where did you do the 1 year certificate program? Is it too late for me to apply?

 

[GottaGetThatDMD21]

Nothing wrong with Bs, but multiple Cs might raise eyebrows. Regardless, you got to interview at schools which means your academic record is good enough.

I have ADD, but I did fine in my coursework once I decided I could cure it with cognitive training (and with the help of some drugs for a while). Do you do worse in certain components of your coursework than others? For example, perhaps you do poorly on exams but you get As on your labwork and you are a good writer. That MIGHT be ADD. If you do about the same across different kinds of assignments, then it is not likely ADD.Also, if your friends and family believe you are meant to be a doctor, then you probably don't have ADD. The signs are usually obvious in social contexts because people tend to find those with ADD annoying or unintelligent (untrue as it may be).

You've been in college for almost four years, and now you're re-evaluating your basic cognitive abilities? Just because the dental school admissions offices have been silent? Have some confidence! You haven't even been rejected to these schools yet--you could get an acceptance any time. But if you don't, do your best to finish strong next semester and experiment with different study techniques. It is certainly possible to change.

Anyway, thank you very much for your encouraging words!

 

[GottaGetThatDMD21]

Im sort of similar to you...I averaged B's in all my bio classes....3.11 bio gpa. funny enough Im a bio major. Having graduated already I wished I majored in biochm as I got all As in chemistry and enjoyed it much more. keep trucking...I had the same worries as you and I got accepted.

Thanks for your encouragement!
Besides all of your A's in chemistry, what else did you do to get accepted?

 

[kitten30]

For bio, summarize the info into your own words; turn the figures into your own drawings- my own notes more are helpful in terms of memorizing the material; also read the textbook to get an outline so you can integrate the information better and it won't be just pieces of random information; find someone to quiz you before the exams

 

[molarmom]

As long as your overall GPA is acceptable, this is the type of thing you can explain in an interview. What did you get on biology on the DAT?

 

[BeyonceFan1226]

Thank you so so so much for your words of encouragement! I really was stuck in a weird place. I think I'm slowly getting out of it, but I'm not sure.
I will retake my DAT and apply again, I guess it's because I'm surrounded by such accomplished friends and close ones that it's VERY hard not to think: "Am I simply not good enough?"
I'll try that for sure, thank you!

Also- where did you do the 1 year certificate program? Is it too late for me to apply?

George Mason's Advanced Biomedical Sciences program. It is a nine month certificate program with the option of finishing up an additional 10 credits at Georgetown University and receiving a Masters in Physiology from Georgetown. However I only completed the certificate portion. Here is the link: https://georgesquared.gmu.edu/graduate-cert-adv-biomed-sci-curriculum/

The deadline is June 15th but I would apply as soon as possible. You do not need a DAT score to apply but it may help with the application process. They offer DAT prep during the program as well. Hope this helps!

 

[ejch8456]

IMHO I think if you're above a 3.0 (for sci and total GPA) and have a 20 or above DAT score, you should have a fighting chance to get in. If you are really concerned about your biology grades, retake the classes. I got straight C's (and a W) through gen chem (C for chemistry right?). I retook the course 5 years later at a junior college and got straight A's. Oddly enough, g-chem was my highest score on the DAT, so schools never questioned me about my academic capabilities when I interviewed. B's are not the end of the world, just work hard and crush the DAT.